WARNING: The following contains spoilers for New Mutants #11, by Ed Brisson, Flaviano Armentaro, Carlos Lopez, and VC's Travis Lanham, on sale now.
Since the formation of Krakoa reshaped the X-Men's world, Marvel's core X-Men books have expanded upon the deep mythology of some of Marvel's most famous mutants. However, the focus on mutantkind as a whole has also reframed and added depth to a plethora of characters who were previously afterthoughts in the Marvel Universe. Characters who traditionally haven't played a huge role in the grand design of the X-Men have now taken on roles of utmost importance in the new mutant nation of Krakoa.
Now, New Mutants #11 puts two of these relatively minor characters, Wildside and Mondo, at the forefront as they team up to save their teammates and the newest mutant recruit from herself. While this issue still just marks just the beginning of Wildside's heroics, it is the latest instance of Mondo showing his newfound importance to his team and Krakoa as a whole.
The issue begins where New Mutants #10 left off, with the team attempting to help a newly manifesting mutant while trapped in a nightmare of the young mutant's creation in the mutant-hostile nation of Carnelia. With the rest of the team incapacitated, Mondo uses his ability to mimic Armor's shields around himself and Wildside, so Wildside can use his psychic powers to give the young mutant good dreams. The two unlikely heroes are successful and the group is freed before they all flee back to Krakoa to escape the hostility of Carnelia.
After debuting in Scott Lobdell and Chris Bachalo's Generation X #3, Mondo appeared throughout the 1990s in Generation X series as a villainous ally of Black Tom whose clone infiltrated the team. While he rarely appeared after that era, Mondo has become an integral part of the New Mutants and the nation as a whole. His ability to absorb both organic and inorganic matter helped the mutants in communicating with Krakoa, and he joined the New Mutants on their adventures throughout the new series.
Wildside has played a slightly bigger role than Mondo throughout his existence but still has failed to achieve any sort of significant relevance in the X-Men universe. He initially appeared as a founder of the Mutant Liberation Front in Rob Liefeld and Louise Simonson's New Mutants #86, battling various X-Men teams throughout the '90s before being taken in by the Weapon X Program and becoming a less frequent thorn in the X-Men's side. With the formation of Krakoa, Wildside is just one of many former enemies of the X-Men who have been given a second chance to right their wrongs and fight alongside their fellow mutants. While this is his first heroic act, it may be a sign of things to come if the other formerly villainous mutants on Krakoa are an example.
Another New Mutant, Doug Ramsey, has seen a similar treatment in Dawn of X. Although he was previously written off, Cypher is now a major player on Krakoa, who stands as one of the chief architects of Krakoan society. It's even been hinted at that he may play an even bigger role to come in Krakoa's potential downfall as well. But by reframing and recontextualizing previously forgotten characters like Mondo and Wildside, Marvel has embraced the full potential of the X-Men and the world in which they live.